Book 3: Chapter 4 (1/2)

「…Movement within the Empire is restricted. Please be sure to put on this bracelet and do not remove it. Also, please return this bracelet before leaving the Empire. If you do leave the Empire without removing it, an extremely loud alarm will sound off. The bracelet will be rented on your guild plate and the data will be removed when you return it.」

The bracelet given by the Lev citizen had a hinge on one side, and was something that could not be opened without using a key.

Although it looked like a simple silver bracelet,【World Ruler】indicated that magic was engraved on the side that touches the arm.

(This is a GPS-like function. Also, records the wearer’s emotions and vital responses?)

I associated it with a smartwatch, but some functions have much higher performance than that.

It’s amazing to think they developed something like this.

(But it feels unpleasant to have my information recorded.)

I wrapped a bandage on my arm and then fastened the bracelet over it.

「All right, please come this way.」

The elderly Lev citizen, who looked more like a scholar rather than a staff of the Adventurer’s guild, wore dark blue robes. The pure white beard stretching down from his chin indicated that he was old, probably—I was honestly quite impressed by the beard.

We stood in front of a huge towering wall. An iron door was installed there, and about five Lev guards were guarding it. A tunnel, wide enough for a carriage to pass through, was opened.

While being wary of the guards, we, Silver Balance, went inside.

The length of the tunnel was about 50 meters with magic lamps lit up at 5 meter intervals.

(There is wind…)

Dry wind blew from the other side.

The light at the end of the tunnel was dazzling, causing me to squint my eyes.

「Welcome to the Lev Magic Empire.」

The guild staff said, as he turned around towards us at the exit.

I nearly raised my voice in awe.

Reddish-brown cliffs stretched to the left and right, and continued all the way to the other side.

The land surrounded by cliffs was the Lev Magic Empire.

There were dozens of magic airships flying in the sky, but it seemed that those were carrying things rather than people.

Most of the buildings were 5-storeys or more, probably mixed and hardened with the soil that came out of the reddish-brown cliffs, and all of them were dark red.

Window panes, which are rare in other countries and only used for elegance, were so common here, and used abundantly to reflect sunlight.

And… it was not carriages that treaded paved grounds, but cars.

「It’s not using a steam engine… but moving by sorcery…」

「Hou, you seem quite knowledgeable. The six-wheeled vehicle, powered by a “Magi Engine”, has become the primary means of transportation in the Empire. Now then, it seems that your welcoming party is here.」

The scholar-like guild staff pointed to Muge-san, who came riding on Neko-chan while waving “Hey〜!”.

…Hmm, the other Lev citizens frown when they look at Neko-chan. And there are no other steam cars running—oh, Neko-chan is in a bad mood, the engine just stopped.

「…Well then, try not to cause any troubles.」

The scholar-like guild staff quickly turned away and returned to the tunnel.

And we approached Muge-san.

**

「Oh, thank you so much. Dante-san is so strong.」

After that, Dante-san had to push Neko-chan all the way cause she was dead silent. The judging looks from the people around us was painful, but anyway, we arrived at the store run by Muge-san.

The store, which was located on the outer edge of the city, had a huge warehouse in the back, where Neko-chan, coal, and goods were stored. Coming this far out of the city, the roads were not paved. Trees and overgrown grass was everywhere. And the cliff that surrounded the Empire can be seen in the immediate vicinity.

(That place over there… they’re making a hole in the cliff.)

A crane was installed on the cliff, and I could see luggage and people going up and down. Such sights were everywhere on the cliffs. And there was a hole in the middle of the wall, making me wonder if there was something inside.

Is it a storage? Or maybe a silo? I wonder if they’re using the cliff since land is limited in this country. No, if that was the case, then they should just dig underground.

「So, Muge-san, why did you request for us this time?」

There was an old table in the warehouse, and we sat on the small chairs around it. Muge-san carried over a pitcher with ice and water—condensed vapour gathered on the surface of the iron-make pitcher. Dante-san poured the water from the pitcher into an iron cup, and drank three glasses at once.

「…I sold the Gigaboar, but it sold for much higher than I initially expected.」

「…? Isn’t that good news?」

「Yes, it was indeed–Oh, by the way, I didn’t try to talk down the price with you, ok, Dante-san?」